The Central Circuit (道央 Dōō) covers the western and central parts of the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Cities and towns[edit]

43°3′0″N 141°40′34″E

Map of Central Circuit

Cities[edit]

• 43.066667141.351 Sapporo (札幌市 Sapporo-shi) – Hokkaido's capital and by far its biggest and liveliest town
• 42.816667141.652 Chitose (千歳市 Chitose-shi) – the gateways to Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Lake Shikotsu and Mount Tarumae
• 43.2141.7833333 Iwamizawa (岩見沢市 Iwamizawa-shi)
• 42.316667140.9666674 Muroran (室蘭市 Muroran-shi)
• 42.416667141.15 Noboribetsu (登別市 Noboribetsu-shi) – Hokkaido's best-known hot spring resort
• 43.1833331416 Otaru (小樽市 Otaru-shi) – port with international flavor
• 43.55141.9166677 Takikawa (滝川市 Takikawa-shi)
• 42.633333141.68 Tomakomai (苫小牧市 Tomakomai-shi) – transportation and shipping hub on the south coast
• 43.05141.9666679 Yūbari (夕張市 Yūbari-shi)

Towns[edit]

• 42.483333142.0666671 Hidaka (日高町 Hidaka-chō) and 42.583333142.1333332 Biratori (平取町 Biratori-chō) – also home to the small village of Nibutani where 80% of residents are Ainu
• 42.9140.7666673 Kutchan (倶知安町 Kutchan-chō)
• 42.366667142.3166674 Niikappu (新冠町 Niikappu-chō) – known for horse breeding, cliff artwork, and Deikazan (the only mud volcano in Japan)

Mount Poroshiri

• 42.8140.6833335 Niseko (ニセコ町 Niseko-chō) – ski resort that draws visitors even from overseas
• 42.133333142.9333336 Samani (様似町 Samani-chō)
• 43.299167140.5983337 Shakotan (積丹町 Shakotan-chō)
• 42.25142.5666678 Shinhidaka (新ひだか町 Shinhidaka-chō) – thoroughbreds and beautiful cherry blossoms
• 42.55141.359 Shiraoi (白老町 Shiraoi-chō)
• 42.55140.76666710 Tōyako (洞爺湖町 Tōyako-chō)
• 43.195306140.78352811 Yoichi (余市町 Yoichi-chō)

Other destinations[edit]

• 42.6666671411 Shikotsu-Toya National Park (支笏洞爺国立公園 Shikotsu Tōya Kokuritsu Kōen) – two beautiful caldera lakes with rumbling volcanoes and mossy canyons

Understand[edit]

Get in[edit]

Sapporo is the biggest transportation hub in Hokkaido.

By plane[edit]

New Chitose Airport (CTS ^IATA) and Okadama Airport (OKD ^IATA).

By train[edit]

• JR Hokkaido Hakodate main line
• JR Muroran main line
• JR Hokkaido Hidaka main line

By car[edit]

By boat[edit]

• Tomakomai port
• Tomakomai East port

Get around[edit]

See[edit]

Do[edit]

Buy[edit]

• Hidaka Kombu (日高昆布). Kelp (Kombu), which is harvested in this region, is famous as the "Hidaka Kombu". In summer, harvested kelps can be seen being sun-dried on beaches. 

Eat[edit]

Drink[edit]

Go next[edit]